Convenience outlet for electric appliances



June 23'; 1931. E. A. RUTENBER CONVENIENCE OUTLET FOR ELECTRIC APPLIANCES Filed May 15, 1928 Errl/l/l/ I! M anventoz Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWIN A. RU TENBER, OF WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO A J. LINDEMANN & HOVERSON COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN coiwnmmrcn OUTLET ron ELECTRIC APPLIANCES Application. filed m 15, 1928. Serial No. 277,969.

The present improvements relate to electrical connections for use on electric ranges or other electrical apparatus.

A primary ob ect of the present improvements is to provide a composite outlet connection for electric ranges, embodying means for receiving a fuse, as Well as contact points for receiving the connecting plug of an electrical service article. A further object is the provision of a novel and convenient assembly unit which may be readily and firmly secured to a support, e. g., an electric range.

The present improvements further pro vide a convenient outlet unit combined with other essentials appurtenant thereto, which simplifies and eliminates a substantial amount of wiring heretofore necessary in electrical ranges and other apparatus of like character.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification and drawings in which 7 Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with ca removed; I

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the inner face of the cap when removed;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6,-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the porcelain base,

' showlng line terminals, with-screw collar removed Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. v5. The device embodying the 2 present improvements is illustrated in assembled relation in Figs. 1 and 6, and isshown mounted on support 10 representing the wall of an electric range or other similar structure. As illustrated, the intermediate member comprises a porcelain base 11 with end members 12 and '13 attached thereto, as hereinafter described, also made of porcelain or other insulating material.

The base 11 has an axial bore 14 terminating in a shallow recess 15 on one face of said base and in a deeper recess 16 on the opposite face thereof. On each side of recess 15, the face of base 11 is channelled to form grooves 17 to accommodate line wires 18 which are adapted for connection to line terminals 19 and 20, as illustrated. Seated in recess 15 is a screw threaded shell 21 of copper or other conducting material, having a mica or other insulating bottom lining 22, above which is disposed a contact member 23 connecting with terminal 19. Elements 22 and 23 are secured firmly to base 11 by means of'screWs 24 passing through bores therein. The-heads of said screws rest in recesses 25 countersunk from recess 16, and are cemented therein against removal. The collar 13 is interiorly screw-threaded and mounted on shell 21 as seen in Fig. 6. This cap or collar 13 accordingly insulates the shell from outside contact and also protects the terminals for the line wires.

On that face of the base 11 having recess 16, and disposed in said recess, are a plurality of spaced contacts 26 and 27. Each contact comprises three projecting spring fingers 28, 29 and 30, two of which are opposed and the third at right angles thereto as seen in Figs. 3 and 4. These fingers are adapted to receive and hold by frictional contact the prongs of the plug of some electrical appliance such as a lamp, iron or other service article.:

Contacts 26 and 27 are held firmly in the A illustrated position by screws 31 and 32, re-

tacts 26 and 27 from outside contact. As seen in Figs. 6 and 8, the cap 12 is provided with aprotruding boss 35 having wells 36 and 37 for accommodating contacts 26 and 27 the latter being accessible through T-shaped apertures 36 and 37' in face 38 of cap 12.

A web 89 separates wells 36 and 37 and is provided with a bore 10 which is disposed axially of cap 12. A notch a1 is provided on the periphery of boss as indicated and is adapted to receive a key 42 formed in the wall of recess 16 on base member 11. As seen in Figs. 3 and 6, an annular ridge 43 and key n. are provided on the face of base 11 surrounding recess 16.

In assembling the structure illustrated, the support e. g. the wall 10 of an electric range is perforated at some convenient and accessible location, to provide a hole of su'liicient size to receive ridge 43 of the base member 11, the periphery of said hole being also provided with a notch for receiving key l-Ll whereby relative movement of the base 11 with respect to the wall 10 is prevented. With the base 11 thus placed to the wall 10, with ridge 43 and key 44; protruding thcrethrough, the spring linger contacts 26 and 27 project through the hole. Cap 12, having leather washer around the boss 35 thereof, is then inserted in the hole in wall .10 so that notch ll is in register with key 42. The web .39 slightly wider than the distance between spring fingers 30 of the contacts 26 and 27, which lingers accordingly grip the web and hold cap 12 in place. Upon complete insertion of the cap, the boss 35 nests in recess 16, see Fig. 6, and the fingers 30 (through web 39) accordingly hold base 11 and cap 12 together, with wall 10 therebetween which latter supports same. This sup porting function is supplemented, and base 11 and cap 12 secured. against separation, by means of screw 46 which is inserted through bores 40 and 14:, and secured in screw threaded engagement with an aperture in a keeper 47 disposed in rec-es 48 in element 11 and bone: th the base of shell 21.

After the foregoing has been accomplished, line wires 18 are secured to terminals 19 and 20 and collar 13 is then screwed in place. A fuse plug of any known design may now be screwed into shell or socket 21 and the organization is ready for use.

It frequently happens in employing an outlet of the character described that the appliances plugged in take more current than the line can withstand with the attendant blowing of a fuse. The replacement of such fuse usually accompanied by great inconvenience and delay, due, among other reasons, to lack of knowledge of its location well as the remoteness thereof. However, the composite unit herein, presented obviates all the foregoing cisadvantages due to its accessibility and convenient location with respect to the outlet.

Furthermore, with the present improvements, a separate jack for the fuse and connecting wires from same to the outlet are eliminated. Applicant has accordingly devised a novel convenience outlet comprising a. single unitary structure embodying new features and a novel arrangement of parts, heretofore, so far he aware, not found in the art.

Various modifications of the organization within the purview of the present improve ments will be apparent to those familiar with the art and may be embodied withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

1 claim.

1. A convenience outlet adapted to be used with electrical apparatus comprising a base having line terminals and a fuse socket on one face thereof, outlet contacts 011 another face thereof, a removable outlet cap adapted to secure said base to a support and a key me iber protruding from said last named face adapted to engage said support in interlocking relation.

2. A. device of the character described comprising a porcelain base, line terminals, a fuse socket on one face of said base, a contact for each terminal on another face of said base, a removable collar for said socket and removable means guarding said contacts and cooperating to secure said base to a support.

3. An outlet assembly for electric stoves comprising a porcelain base having line terminals and a. fuse socketon one face thereof, a projecting contact for each terminal on another face of said base, a removable shield for said contacts, all constructed and arranged so to grip a stove wall between said base and shield, and means for securing said base and shield in said gripping relation.

l. A device of the character described comprising an intermediate base member and removable end members, line terminals and a fuse socket on one face of said intermediate member, a spring linger contact for each terminal on another face of said intermediate member, the arrangement being such that said end members guard said socket and fingers, said lingers holding one end member by frictional contact.

5. A device of the character described comprising a base member having line terminals and a fuse socket on one face thereof, a contact for each terminal on another face of said member comprising a plurality of spring fingers, a removable guard member having apertures adapted to receive said contacts, said guard member being held to said base member by fingers of each contact.

6. An electrical appliance comprising an insulated body member, line terminals on said member for receiving line wires, a threaded contact socket on one face of said member, a removable shield surrounding said socket and having threaded engagement therewith, spring finger contacts on another face of said member, a guard member for said contacts having perforations in which said contacts are disposed and securing means EDWIN A. RUTENBER. 

